The Korean Embassy in Vietnam said that as of July 2, the visa policy for Vietnamese tourists has been relaxed and changed. Accordingly, Vietnamese tourists will no longer need to submit a "Savings Book Balance Confirmation" when applying for a tourist visa (C-3 visa) through domestic travel companies to register as representatives.
In addition, for designated travel agencies, visa processing time is reduced from 7 days to 6 days, while for registered travel agencies, it is reduced from 11 days to 9 working days. For independent travelers, the processing time remains 16 days.
A temple in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo: Unsplash)
To apply for a visa, visitors need to prepare documents such as identity documents (passport, copy of citizen identification card, visa application with photo), proof of employment, and professional records.
Currently, there is no need to prove financial resources with a savings book, only the last three months' account statement is required. Minors under 18 years old need a travel consent from their parents along with proof of relationship. In addition to the documents listed above, the Korean Embassy may request additional documents if deemed necessary. Additional documents may extend the visa issuance time beyond the scheduled date, and the result will be announced 1-2 days after the date of additional documents.
The visa fee is 20 USD for a visa under 90 days, 50 USD for a single entry visa over 90 days, 60 USD for a two-entry visa within 6 months, and 80 USD for a multiple entry visa. The application processing time is from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm, and the visa collection time is from 2pm to 4pm.
Vietnamese visitors can check the application process, visa status and reasons for rejection at the Korean Embassy visa portal.
Cherry blossoms in full bloom in South Korea. (Photo: Unsplash)
In the first four months of 2024, more than 167,000 Vietnamese tourists visited Korea, making it the largest international tourist market in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, Korea is also the largest international tourist market in Vietnam after the pandemic, accounting for nearly 30%. In 2023, more than 3.6 million Korean tourists visited Vietnam out of a total of 12.6 million international visitors.
